Impact of Body Mass Index on Postoperative Outcome of Advanced Gastric Cancer After Curative Surgery

Introduction: The impact of body mass index (BMI) on the outcome of advanced gastric cancer surgery is controversial. Between December 1987 and December 2006, a total of 947 advanced gastric cancer patients receiving curative resection with retrieved lymph node number >15 were studied and divided into three groups according to BMI (<25, 25-30, and >30 kg/m²). Results and Discussion: With regard to comorbidities present prior to surgery, higher BMI patients were more likely to have heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension than lower BMI patients. Compared with BMI <25 kg/m², higher BMI patients had longer operative time and more surgery-related morbidity. Multivariate Cox proportional-hazard analysis showed that age, pathological T and N categories, and lymphovascular invasion were independent prognostic factors. The initial recurrence patterns, 5-year overall survival, and cancer-specific survival were similar among the three groups. Conclusion: Only in stage III gastric cancer with BMI less than 25 kg/m² patients receiving total gastrectomy had a more advanced pathological N category and a worse prognosis compared to those receiving subtotal gastrectomy. Higher BMI was associated with longer operative time and more surgery-related morbidity than lower BMI. BMI alone is not an independent prognostic factor.